Press inclining mechanism



2 1969 v. H. ANDERSON PRESS INCLINING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 11, 1967 INVENTOR. VINCENT HANDERSON BY ATTORNEYS.

///////7/////// 1 a P I M6 2 o United States Patent 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The specification relates to a press provided with mechanism for varying the inclination of the press frame relative to its base or legs. The press disclosed includes a generally C-shaped frame having its lower end positioned between a pair of parallelly extending legs. The frame is pivotally connected to the legs forwardly of its center of gravity. The mechanism provided for varying the inclination of the frame relative to the base includes a first member pivotally connected to one of the press legs and extending inwardly toward the press frame. A rotatable adjusting screw is suspended through an opening formed in the first member and passes downwardly through a threaded opening formed in a second member which is pivotally connected to the press frame.

The present invention is directed toward the press art, and more particularly, to an improved mechanism for varying the inclination of a press frame relative to its legs or base.

The invention will be described with particular reference to a C-frame type metal working press; however, it will be appreciated the invention is capable of broader application and could be utilized in a variety of types of presses.

It is relatively common practice to provide presses with mechanisms that will allow their frames to be inclined to facilitate work handling, etc. Generally the prior inclining mechanism have comprised a screw shaft positioned beneath and centrally of the frame and extending into engagement with the press base.

Because of the large weight of the ordinary press, the mechanisms were required to be quite massive and took up space which could otherwise have been used for housing press auxiliaries such as work handling equipment, etc. Further, the arrangement of the screw shaft caused it to be loaded in compression. This required the use of a relatively large shaft to resist the tendency toward column bending.

Although some prior inclining mechanisms were positioned at the side of the press between the frame and the base or legs, these mechanisms were generally quite complicated. Normally, slideways, levers and links, and other mechanical mechanisms were required. As a consequence, the cost of manufacturing these mechanisms became substantial.

The present invention provides an inclining mechanism which is arranged so as to keep the central area beneath the frame clear and unobstructed. Further, the mechanism is such that the adjusting shaft is always loaded in tension and positioned so as to be concealed from sight in all positions of adjustment.

In accordance with the present invention an inclinable press including a pair of spaced legs, a press frame having its lower end positioned between the legs, and means supporting the frame on the legs forwardly of its center of gravity for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis extending transversely between legs is provided with the improvement comprising: improved means for varying the inclination of the frame relative to the legs, said means including: a first support member extending in- Patented Jan. 21, 1969 wardly toward said frame from one of said legs and connected to said one leg for pivotal movement about a second horizontal axis parallel to the said first axis; a second support member positioned below said first member and extending outwardly from said frame toward said one leg and connected to said frame for pivotal movement about a third axis parallel to said first and second axes; aligned openings formed in said first and second members and extending perpendicularly to said second and third axes; an adjusting rod extending through said openings, said rod being rotatably supported by said first member and having a threaded lower portion engaged with threads carried in said second member.

As is apparent, because the adjusting mechanism is positioned rearwardly of the pivot point for the press frame, and because the adjusting shaft extends downwardly from the leg to a lower connected position with the frame, the shaft is always loaded in tension. Further, because the shaft is positioned between the leg and the frame and has no vertical movement during adjustment, the shaft is al ways concealed throughout all positions of adjustment. Additionally, the mechanism is extremely simple because no special mechanical linkages or guideways are required.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of a highly simplified press including mechanism.

A further object is the provision of a mechanism of the type described wherein the adjusting shaft is always loaded in tension.

An additional object is the provision of an inclining mechanism arranged so as to be concealed in the leg of the press in all positions of adjustment.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a press inclining mechanism which eliminates the need for specially machined surfaces in the press frame or base.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description used to illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a metal working press provided with an inclining mechanism formed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side view of the inclining mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2; and,

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the inclining mechanism taken on line 44 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting same, FIGURE 1 shows the overall arrangement of a C-frame type metal working press A which incorporates the improved inclining mechanism B.

The actual arrangement and construction of press A is not of particular importance to the present invention; however, as shown, it includes a generally C-shaped frame 10 which is formed, for example, of welded plate con struction comprising a pair of spaced side plates 11 joined by transversely extending reinforcing members, not shown. The frame carries the usual bed or bolster plate 12 and a vertically reciprocated ram or slide 14. The upper end of the frame supports a conventional ram drive mechanism 16.

Frame 10 is supported from a pair of spaced legs or base forming members 20 which are positioned on opposite sides of the frame 10. Although only one base forming member 20 is shown, it is to be understood that a second is positioned on the opposite side of the frame. The legs or base members 20 could be of a variety of constructions; however, they are preferably each formed from a vertically extending side plate 22 which is welded to a plurality of reinforcing members 24. As shown in FIG- URE 1, each of the legs or base forming members are provided with a pair of support pads 26. The upper edge of the plate 22 is curved inwardly toward the frame side plate 11 to, in effect, form an inwardly open hollow leg.

In order to permit frame to be inclined relative to the base or legs so as to facilitate handling of the pieces being worked on, the frame is pivotally supported from the legs or base for movement about an axis extending horizontally between the legs forwardly of the frames center of gravity. The pivotal connection could be of a variety of types; however, as shown, it comprises bolt or studs 28 one of which is supported in each leg section and extends inwardly through suitable bearings formed in the lower end of the frame. Although only one such bolt 28 is shown, it is to be understood that the second bolt is axially aligned with the bolt shown and serves to connect the opposite side of the frame to the opposite leg or support. Additionally, as shown in FIGURE 1, means are provided to lock the frame in any of a plurality of pre-sclected positions of incline. The particular means utilized comprise a plurality of bolt openings 30 which are spaced at a uniform radius from the axis of bolts 28. A second opening 32 is arranged at a corresponding radius from bolt 28 in leg or support member 20. A bolt 34 is releasably positioned through hole 32 and through the aligned hole 30 to thereby lock the frame 10 in one of the selected positions of incline. Simply by releasing bolt 34 the frame can be moved to any one of the other 3 positions.

Inclining mechanism B functions to support frame 10 during those periods when it is being readjusted. Additionally, inclining mechanism B serves to move the frame between the positions of adjustment. As best shown in FIGURES 2 through 4, inclining mechanism B includes a first support member which extends inwardly from the side of leg plate 22 toward the frame 10. Support member 40 is arranged for pivotal movement about an axis which extends parallel to the axis about which the frame 10 is arranged to pivot. Although support member 40 could be arranged in a variety of ways, it preferably is supported and connected to the leg by a laterally extending threaded stud 42 which passes through an opening 44 formed in plate 22. As shown in FIGURE 4, stud 42 passes through a bushing member 46 and is clamped to the plate 22 by a nut 48.

A second support member 50 is connected to the side of frame 10 and extends outwardly toward the corresponding leg 20 at a point beneath support member 40. As shown, support member 50 is connected to the frame for pivotal movement about a third axis which also extends parallel to the axis about which the frame is arranged to pivot. The connection between support member 5.0 and frame 10 comprises a stud 52 which extends laterally from the support member through an opening or bore in the frame. A nut 54 is received on the threaded end of the stud and functions to maintain the support member on the frame.

As shown, support members 40 and 50 are provided with aligned openings 56 and 58 respectively. An adjusting screw 60 extends downwardly through the aligned opening 56 and 58. The screw 60 is rotatably supported by support member 40 by virtue of a split collar 62 which is received in a reduced diameter groove formed in the shaft. The lower end portion of shaft 60 is threaded throughout its length and passes through a threaded insert 66 carried by the support member 50. As shown, the threaded insert 66 is provided with an outwardly extending collar portion 67 which engages the lower surface of support member 50. Insert 66 is prevented from rotating by a screw 68 which is threaded into the lower end of support member 50 and passes through a relief or recess formed in the side of the insert.

As is apparent, because the adjusting mechanism is positioned behind the axis about which the frame pivots, and because the adjusting screw is supported at its upper end and connected at its lower end to the press frame, the screw is always loaded in tension. Additionally, simply by rotating the screw the frame can be moved to any of its positions of adjustment. Additionally, because the screw is positioned behind leg plate 22 and does not move axially during adjustment of the frame, the screw is always completely concealed in all positions of the frames adjustment.

A variety of mechanisms could be used to rotate screw 60; however, according to the preferred embodiment, screw 60 is intended to be rotated manually through the use of a wrench or socket screw applied to the squared upper end 70.

In order to allow the screw to be more easily rotated, the collar 62 is positioned on an antifriction thrust bearing 72 carried in support member 40.

The rigidity and load carrying ability of support member 40 is increased by a pair of spaced, downwardly extending leg portions 74 which engage the inside of the leg plate 22.

The invention has been described in great detail sulficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the press art to make and use the same. Obviously, modifications and alterations of the preferred embodiment will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the specification, and it is my intention to include all such modifications and alterations as part of my invention insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an inclinable press including a pair of spaced legs, a press frame having its lower end positioned between the legs, and means supporting the frame on the legs forwardly of its center of gravity for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis extending between said legs, improvement comprising: improved means for varying the inclination of the press relative to the legs, said means including: a first support member extending inwardly toward said frame from one of said legs and connected to said one leg for pivotal movement about a second horizontal axis parallel to said first axis; a second support member positioned below said first member and extending outwardly from said frame toward said one leg and connected to said frame for pivotal movement about a third axis parallel to said first and second axes; aligned openings formed in said first and second members and extending perpendicularly to said second and third axes; an adjusting rod extending through said openings, said rod being rotatably supported by said first member and having a threaded lower portion engaged with threads carried in said second member.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjusting rod has a radially extending collar supported from an antifriction thrust bearing carried in said first member.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjusting rod has its upper end extending outwardly from between said one leg and said frame.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame is provided with means for locking it in its adjusted position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 769,955 9/ 1904 Osswald.

1,013,339 1/1912 Verdin et al.

2,546,100 3/1951 Johansen et al.

2,602,508 7/1952 Patrick.

2,837,992 6/1958 Wissman l00231 BILLY I. WILHITE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

